Sagan Tosu started J-League Cup 2019 path on Wednesday suffering a defeat against Vegalta Sendai (1-3). Fernando Torres was rested for this first Cup fixture of the season and played the final stage of the game, replacing Dong-Geong Cho on the attacking line (63’). On the equivalent fixture of the Group B Kashiwa Reysol bagged the all three points defeating FC Tokyo 2-1.

Ryo Germain scored the opener shortly before the break, adding to his scoresheet a second goal on minute 72’. Taniguchi reduced the gap to 1-2 (83’), but despite the hard efforts from Sagan Tosu to score an equaliser it was the visitors who added to their rent  through T. Abe.

- Match stats:

Sagan Tosu: Takaoka; Kazuki Anzai, Brucic, Hara, Higuchi (Kanazaki 53’), Dong-Geon Cho (Torres 69’), Matsuoka, Shimaya, H. Takahashi, Y. Takahashi, Taniguchi

Vegalta Sendai: Seki; Abe (Ishihara 86’), Germain, Ishihara, Jeong-Ya Kim, Matsushita, Michibuchi, Ryang Yong-Gi (Simão Junio 72’), Teruyama (Oiwa 64’), Tokida, Yoshio.

Bookings: Shimaya 74’, Michibuchi 90’.

Goals:

0-1 (45’) Germain
0-2 (72’) Germain
1-2 (83’) Taniguchi
1-3 (85’) T. Abe